Ice fishermen prepare for live bait restrictions — again

As ice fishing season gets underway, understanding bait regulations is vital, both for anglers and the longterm health of area fisheries.

Comment

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.com

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.com

Posted Jan. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.com

Posted Jan. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

As ice fishing season gets underway, understanding bait regulations is vital, both for anglers and the longterm health of area fisheries.

For time-tested anglers, minnow restrictions are just part of the game, but for budding fisherman they can be confusing. Even experienced anglers can be left scratching their heads over the multilayered rules.

Live bait restrictions have been in place since 2008, a move the Department of Natural Resources made to thwart the spread to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a deadly fish disease.

The restrictions require anglers to use certified, disease-free bait in all waters that have not tested positive for VHS, which includes northern Michigan’s inland lakes.

VHSv has been spreading in Michigan waters. Fish in Lake St. Clair and Baseline Lake are some of the most recent victims. Following the bait restriction is crucial to keeping VHSv out of northern Michigan’s highly valued fisheries.

Though both, Lake St. Clair and Baseline Lake are in southern Michigan, the presence of VHSv in Baseline Lake is of more concern to northern Michigan residents. Baseline Lake is only the second inland lake in Michigan to be contaminated with VHSv and proves that inland lakes across the state could be in danger.

“There is no known treatment for VHS,” he said. “Our best defense against it is trying to prevent and slow its spread.”

VHSv has been detected in the Lake Huron waters near Cheboygan, Alpena and Rogers City, which raises the threat to Cheboygan County’s cherished lakes: Burt Lake, Mullett Lake, and Black Lake. Thus far the virus has not been detected in any of these lakes to date.

Being able to identify fish infected with VHSv is important for novice and experienced angles alike. There are a few telltale symptoms to look for.

As the name suggests, infected fish usually show signs of hemorrhaging in the skin, generally in large red patches and on the head, but not always.

According to DNR biologists, infected fish will sometimes exhibit very minor external hemorrhaging or none at all.

Internal bleeding is another issue, according to Whelan. All organs are usually congested with hemorrhages, especially the liver, spleen, intestines and swim bladder.

Sick fish often appear listless, swim in circles or hang just below the surface of the water, he added.